Bottle dispensing apparatus



Feb. 12, 1952' JOHNSON 2,585,012

BOTTLE-DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 F v fl' INVENTOR..

f/me/ 6i Jab/7.50

Feb. 12, 1952 JOHNSON 2,585,012

BOTTLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1948 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2 JNVENTOR. 4 /020 6. dah/zaa/r BY ATTORN )4 Patented Feb. 12, 1952 BOTTLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Elmer C. Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 8, 1948, Serial No. 58,866

2 Claims. 31248) This invention relates to automatic vendin machines of the kind particularly adapted to dispense common varieties of beverage bottles, one at a time as the machine is placed in operation and upon insertion of a coin or like medium,

the primary object being to provide a vending forms the subject matter hereof and While such machine has many advantages, there is present therein one disadvantage in that a relatively large area of wasted space is present. Accordingly, it is one of the most important objectsof this invention toprovide an automatic vendin mai chine wherein such wasted space is entirely eliminated.

' As in my aforesaid co-pending application, this invention embodies a bottle vending machine wherein the bottles themselves are horizontally arranged in a pair of stacks disposed in staggered relationship so that retention of one of the stacks against downward movement will also hold the other stack against gravitational movement, the vending structure for the stacks constituting a reciprocable, freely rotating roller underlying the stacks'and shiftable from one to the other whereby the bottles are vended singly.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a vending machine as above set forth having a pair of rotatable shafts for mounting the above mentioned roller, the shafts being provided with criss-cross grooves and a follower block sliclable on the shafts and in the grooves for reciprocation as the shafts rotate whereby the roller is alternately moved from beneath one of the stacks to a position beneath the other stack.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a bottle vending machine having the aforesaid vending mechanism as a part thereof, a plurality of side-by-side chambers, each having a pair of bottle stacks therein, the rotatable shafts being common to all chambers and each chamber being provided with a rectilinearly reciprocable roller operated by the shafts, all to the end that through proper synchronization, the bottles are delivered singly from the machine and successively from one of the chambers and then the remaining chambers each time the machine is. placed in operation.

Many more minor objects, including novel details of constructiom'will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a machine for vending refrigerated bottled goods or the like from staggered stacks, th cabinet door being entirely removed to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view taken on irregular line IIII of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. V

Fig. 3 is a detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed cross-sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 3.

The particular form of the cabinet for housing the operating mechanism and storing the bottled goods to be vended thereby, is of no importance to the present invention and there has been shown for illustrative purposes only, a cabinet that is broadly designated by the numeral l0, and having double-walled sides, ends and bottoms to present a hollow compartment 12 that is closed by a suitable swingable door I4.

All of the Walls forming the cabinet 12, as well as the door It, are suitably insulated inasmuch as the bottles 16 to be vended are to be kept cool by refrigerating means It preferably disposed at the bottom of the compartment l2.

Structure for holding the bottles l6 within the compartment [2 in a position for vending, as well as the assembly for vending the same, constitutes a composite unit mounted within the compartment 52 and including upright frame members 20. Thes frame members 20 support a pair of spaced apart end walls 22 that are interconnected intermediate the ends thereof by a pair of spaced cross panels 25. A pair of spaced apart partitions 2E and 28 are equally spaced between the end walls 22 and rise upwardly from the cross panels 24. The uppermost ends of the walls 22 and partitions 26 and 28 are held in place by means of a cover plate 30 provided with a plurality of down-turned flanges 32 that may be secured in any suitable manner to the walls 22, partition 26 and the partition 28. Each of the end walls 22 is provided with a pair of in' turned flanges 34 along th vertical edges thereof and strips 35 are secured to each of the vertical edges of both partitions 25 and 28, said strips 36 overlapping proximal chambers formed by the walls 22and partitions 26 and 28. Accordingly, three bottlerreceiving chambers designated by the numerals 38, 48 and 42, are resented for receiving the bottles E6.

The height of each of these chambers may be chosen to suit the desires of the manufacturer but the lengths thereof should be approximately the same as the height of the bottles 18, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The Width of each of these chambers38, 48 and 42 is less than the combined diameters of two of the bottles is but greater than the diameter of one of such bottles l6. Accordingly, when bottles lfiare disposed with their longitudinal axes in a horizontal position within the chambers; 88; 48'and42, a, pair of stacks thereof is presented, the bottles of one stack being in staggered relationship to the bottles of the other stack andall bottles beingin engaging relationship to the bottles next adjacent thereto.

It is obvious that through such construction ofthe chambers, 38, 48 and 4-2, retention of one of the stacks of bottles I8 against downward movement in the respective chamber will hold the other stack in place. Such means for retaining the stacks in place within their respective chambers 38, 48 and 42 includes a roller, broadly designated by the numeral 44 disposed adjacent the open bottom of each chamber respectively. These three rollers 44 of identical character, constitute a cylindrical member 46 having plugs 48 closing the ends thereof, said plugs each-being. axially perforated asat 58 for receiving an elongated shaft 52.

A tubular sleeve 54 of rubber or other suitable resilient material, completely covers the cylinder 48 and the plugs 48 thereof. The longitudinal axes of the rollers-44 are in substantial parallelism with the axes of the bottles i8 and are mounted within the cross panels 24 through the medium of a pair of opposed rollers 58 that are threaded upon the ends of the shaft 52extending outwardly beyond the plugs 48. These rollers 58 are rotatably mounted within: elongated slots 51 formed in the panels 24 for free rotation longitudinally therealong.

It is thus seen that a roller assembly 44 is provided for each of the chambers 38, 48 and 42, all three rollers being disposed between the spaced cross panels 24 and mounted for rectilinear reciprocation within the elongated slots 5'! from beneath one of the stacks of bottles is to a position beneath another of the stacks thereof. Because of the free rotation of the rollers 44 and their frictional engagement with the lowermost of the bottles H5 in the respective chamber, such reciprocable movement thereof will release the bottles singly from the open bottoms of the respective chambers. As the rollers 44 so reciprocate, they will roll upon the surfaces of the bottles which come into engagement therewith and a gradual release of the bottle will take place. Before any one bottle is released by a roller 44, the latter will actually come into contact with the lowermost bottle of the next stack thereof and at no time will there be a sudden drop of any of the stacks. Because of the free rotative movement of the roller 44, the bottles l6 themselves will not roll as they move downwardly but will gradually squeeze by the roller 44 as the same is reciprocated to a position for releasing such bottle.

The structure for imparting rectilinear reciprocation to the three rollers 44, includes a pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel rotatable shafts-58 and 68. The shafts are of identical character and aremounted upontheoutermost faces of the proximal cross panels '24 by means of spaced-apart bearings 62 secured directly to the panels 24. It is thus seen that the longitudinal axes of the horizontal shafts 58 and 88 are disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the longitudinal axes of the horizontally positioned bottle [6 within chambers 38, 48 and42. Simultaneous rotation of the two shafts 58 and 68 is caused by energization of an electric motor or other prime mover 64 mounted upon one of the end walls 22 below the chamber 42, said motor 64' having a sprocket 66 secured to its driveshaft for receiving an endless chain 58 that in turn passes over sprockets 18 on one end of the shafts'58 and 68.

Each of the shafts 58 and 68 is provided with three follower blocks of identical character designated by the numeral 12, these blocks 12 having a bore 14 formed therein of substantially the same diameter as the corresponding shaft58- or to the end that the blocks 12 are freely slidable longitudinal of the shafts 58 and 68.

A cavity I6 extends inwardly into one face of the followers :2 in perpendicular relationshipto the bore 14 for receiving the ends of the. shafts 52 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Shafts 58 and 68 are provided with. crisscross grooves 18 adjacent each of the chambers 38, 48 and 42. A plug 88 freely rotatable within an opening 82 formed in the uppermost face of followers 12, is provided. with an, ear 8.4 on. the innermost end thereof that extends into the criss-cross grooves 18. The three sets. of grooves 18 are formed circumferentially about the shafts 58 and B8 and the ears 84 of plugs 88 arepolygonal in cross section for free sliding movement within the grooves 18.

It is apparent that as the shafts 58 rotate, the cars 84 of plugs 88 will follow the grooves 18 and as such ears 84 reach the ends of, grooves 18, rotation of the plugs 88 will take place within the openings 82 and the direction of movement of the blocks 12 on the respective shafts 58 and 68 will be reversed. Such reciprocation of the three followers F2 on each of the shafts 58 and 88 will in turn impart rectilinear reciprocation .to the rollers 44 within the elongated slots 51'. Through proper pitch of the criss-cross grooves 18 and initial correct relative disposition ofthe three followers on theirrespective shafts 58 and 68, rotation of the shafts will vend the bottles l5 consecutively from the chambers 38, 48 and 42. In other words, a single bottle IE will be delivered either from the compartment 38, compartment 48 or the compartment 42, since only one of the three rollers 44 will move to a position for releasing a bottle [6 during each full cycle of machine operation.

It-is contemplated of" course, that coin control means be associated with the machine for controlling energization of the motor 64 and further, that suitable cam switches be provided on either the drive shaft for motor 64 or upon one of the shafts 58 or 68 for controlling the cycle-of operation of motor 64.

A rod 86 is swingably mounted adjacent oneof the cross panels 24 above the shaft 58, the ends of the rod 86 being pivotally secured to thetwo bearings 82 for the shaft 58. This rod 86' has-a laterally extending loop 88 for each of the chambers 38, 48 and 42 respectively, that normally rests upon the bottom of the lowermost bottle' 18 of the respective chamber. One end of 'this'rod 86 is offset as at 98 and is disposed inalignmentzwith the actuating arm of an electric. switch' 92. Thus;

when all of the bottles I6 have been vended from compartments 38, 40 and 42, the portions 88 of rod 86 will swing inwardly into the chambers to impart rotative movement to rod 86 and to the offset portion 90 thereof. Such operation will actuate the normally open switch 92 to energize an electric circuit having a lamp therein that is disposed at a suitable point on the exterior of the cabinet I0 to indicate the empty condition of the machine. The bottles emanating from the compartments 38 and 42 drop downwardly upon a pair of inclined shelves 94 and 96 disposed in underlying relationship to the compartments 38 and 42. The lowermost ends of the shelves 94 and 96 terminate at a point below the compartment 40 and are formed by a pair of rods 98 and I00 that span the distance between the walls 22.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the rod I00 has a downwardly extending loop I02 formed midway between the ends thereof for receiving a pair of cross bars I04; as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, these cross bars are inclined downwardly toward the door I4 from a point adjacent the back of chamber 40 to a point near the innermost face of the door I4.

An opening I06 formed in the door I4 registers with the lowermost ends of the cross bars I04 and a shelf I08 formed on the outermost face of the door I4 receives the bottles I6 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Rods 98 and I00 forming shelves 94 and 96 are provided with telescoping rubber or other resilient sleeves IIO, to cushion the impact of bottle I6 as the same drops from the compartments 38 and 42. It is seen that such bottles will readily roll downwardly upon the shelves 94 and 96 until the same come to a position resting upon the cross bars I04, whereupon such bottle I6 will slide forwardly through opening I06 in door I4 and upon the shelf I08. Inasmuch as the bottles I6 vended from the chamber 40 drop directly downwardly, a pair of arouate panels II2 are provided to break the fall of such bottles I6 before the same come to rest upon the cross bars I04. These arcuate panels H2 are swingably secured to cross shafts II4 spanning the distance between the panels 24 and a slot II6 formed in each panel 24 adjacent each of the arcuate members II2 slidably receives a pin II8 that is secured directly to the panel I I2. The pins I I8 are joined bya sprin I20 to yieldably hold the two arouate panels II2 biased toward each other in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. As the vended bottle from chamber 40 drops and comes into contact with the panels I I2, the spring I20 will yield and permit the bottle to fall upon the cross bars I04.

If desired the cabinet I0 may be formed with the compartment I2 thereof sufiiciently large to present storage spaces for additional bottles I6 along the outermost faces of the end walls 22. Inasmuch as the endless chain 68 and associated parts, occupy a portion of one of these spaces, a shelf I22 is provided for receiving such stored bottles I6.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine having supporting and guiding means for receiving two columns of articles in staggered relationship, a reciprocable roller disposed below the columns of articles and adapted to alternately engage the columns to restrain both columns from downward movement; a slotted support at each end respectively of the roller for guiding the same along a rectilinear path of travel; a rotatable, compound screw having criss-cross grooves adjacent each support respectively; and a follower block operably mounted on each screw respectively and connected to the roller for reciprocating the latter as the screws are rotated.

2. In a vending machine having supporting and guiding means for receiving two columns of articles in staggered relationship, a reciprocable roller disposed below the columns of articles and adapted to alternately engage the columns to restrain both columns from downward movement; a shaft for the roller; a slotted support at each end respectively of the roller for guiding the same along a rectilinear path of travel; a slide member in the slot of each support respectively for receiving said shaft; a rotatable, compound screw having criss-cross grooves adjacent each support respectively; and a follower block operably mounted on each screw respectively and connected to the shaft for reciprocating the shaft and the roller as the screws are rotated.

ELMER C. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,369,882 Brock Feb. 20, 1945 2,438,503 Holt Mar. 30, 1948 

